no one shows up for the matinee

contrary to popular belief,
no one shows up for the matinee---
yes,
it is true that when you are born,
someone was probably there
cooing over your little blood-covered & wrinkled face,
alongside your mother,
and yes,
when you are dead,
there may be someone who shows up at your
funeral or
perhaps, at least throws your ashes in a coffee can
like walter & the dude in
The Big Lebowski,
throwing you off into the wind,
off a cliff,
for good measure.

but though the middle part is brutal,
depressing &
short,
(and as much as you think there might be somebody coming to save you)
no one
shows up
for the matinee.

it might be that the popcorn is stale,
it might be that there are never any other people to watch the film with,
but in the end,
no one shows up to watch the film in the midday because they are all consumed
with their own lives---
your saving just isn’t on their
priority list.

you have to sit in the theater alone & watch yourself make it through.